I want to begin by dedicating this Website to my daughter
Claudia Catherine Schmitt Micare. Claudia lives in NY and is a
collector of antique photographs. She allowed me to have some of these
photos on loan and it was a delightful time I had restoring them. This
Victorian Lady's hat, with the stuffed bird on top, was the style of the period during
the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 - 1901. It was certainly a difficult
time for birds. These bird hats including ostrich feathers were all the
rage.

A
formal picture of these men in this antique photograph. The Derby hat
originated in England in the 1800s. These men are in their Sunday best.

This is a typical stylized picture of a woman reading a letter from her
lover. His picture is below by her feet. The newspaper is an interesting
prop. I tried to enlarge it and rotate it upside down to find out if there
was a reference to the picture. The only thing I could make out was that it
was the Chicago Tribune. This is a
Cabinet Card c. 1837 when it was
introduced. Reached its peak of popularity in 1880.

The clarity of this photograph is astounding. See the two boys on the
bridge? This reminds me of Tom Sawyer. My hat is off to the camera and I
would guess it was an Albumen (egg white) print invented in 1850.

Below was an enormous challenge. It was a framed two and a half inch
square portrait on a Daguerreotype, a direct positive made in the camera on
a silvered copper plate. It was a surprise because the original did not
show the stern look on this woman's face. The client who asked me to
restore this picture said she has an "evil eye." I think she's right.

This happy skating duo c. 1926 makes me happy to look at it. I like the
quality and clarity of the ice with their shadows.

Three silly girls in the
Victorian Era. They had a good time in those days.

I think this is my favorite picture. It is very old but the client
remembers one of the children. Again it was a professional photographer who
took this picture and it survived the ravages of time. The boy is dressed
in ruffles and notice the high button shoes on the children.

This makes me laugh.....hopefully it is what it was supposed to do. I am
intrigued by the girl on the right. Look at her eyes. The fellow with the
fan also funny. Having one's picture taken in the old days must have been
more fun than it is today.

No denying these three are related. This is a generational picture for
sure. I wonder if the young man seated ever grew a beard in his old age.
Grandfather, father, and son all have the same head shape.

There is something about Civil War photographs that makes me want to tear
up. It was one of our country's worst wars. Brother against brother. This
Union Soldier has such a weary nobility on his face. I feel his pain.

Three Gibson Girls (you can tell by the hair styles) c. 1890s. I
fantasize
that these girls may have worked in a garment factory and are taking a lunch
break by dipping their piggies in the stream. Photographs are wonderful
because they are the only thing that can stop time.

Below is Granny with her favorite companions. She must have had a hard life
by the look on her face. Certainly a no nonsense look. The times were hard
back when Granny was alive.

Below, Arc de Triomphe. Picture by Charles "Tooney" Olinde. I was amazed
how this restoration brought out the detail of the sculpture. This famous
monument which honors those who fought and died for France in the
French Revolutionary and the
Napoleonic Wars, has the names of all French victories and generals
inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

I was intrigued with this photo. It is much improved from the
original. Interesting pose. Headpiece worn in the Victorian Era.
Women carried a parasol as part of their costume.

My friend Tooney gave me this picture to restore. The original had mold
spots covering the arms and just about everywhere on this picture. It is a
picture of Tooney's mother (left) and Aunt Cile in World War II. Aunt Cile
helped break the Japanese
Naval Code which was a turning point in WWII.

This is Gerry's family. I had an old slide (left), you couldn't see much
from this slide. The restoration brought back many happy memories of my
daughter Eva's first birthday. Good to have this restoration of my mother,
grandmother, aunt (all deceased). A Schmitt family heirloom for sure

I mentioned Tooney in the Arc du Triomphe and WWII girls in the pictures
above. This is Tooney's great great Grandfather. He lost his leg in the
Civil War at Shiloh, one of the bloodiest battles. It was a difficult
restoration from c. 1860. The restoration reminds me of a
Lithograph.

Another Cabinet Card. The design in the mother's dress is so clear. The
child is very sweet.